Transmission of pictures



Feb. 10, 1931.

W. A. TOLS ON TRANSMISSION OF PICTURES Filed July 16, 1929 Inventor: William ANT Olson, b9 M His Attorney.

4 sary Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM A.TOLSON, OF REXFORJ), NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COM- IPANY,A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK TRANSMISSION OF PICTURES Application filedJuly 16,

My invention relates to the transmission of pictures and has for itsprincipal object the provision of an improved apparatus and method ofoperation whereby scenes from different parts of a icture transmittingstudio or the like may e readily picked up and transmitted.

In the operation of a picture transmitting studio it is desirable to usea plurality of devices arranged to pick up scenes from different partsof the studio. These devices may each include scannin means such as aspiral disc or the like. here movable scanning members are utilized inthe scanning of the scenes or pictures it is necessary not only thatthey be moved at the same speed but that they be maintained in a certaindefinite relation with respect to one another. Thus, if each scannindevice includes a rotatable spiral disc, it is essential that the discsbe rotated in synchronism with one another, and that they be maintainedat the same relative angular position with respect to the arrangement ofthe scanning holes. This is made necesb the fact that the scenes orpictures from d ifierent parts of the studio are transmitted by means ofdifierent pick-up devices and the proper relation must be maintainedbetween the positions of their movable members if the different scenestransmitted are to to be properly framed at the receiving station.

In acordance with my invention these results are secured by an improvedarrangement including means for adjusting the angular relation betweenthe movable parts of the difi'erent pick-up devices and-for indicatingwhen all the movable parts are so arranged as to frame the differenttransmitted scenes similarly.

My invention will be better understood from the following descriptionwhen considered in connection with the accompanying drawing and itsscope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

The drawing diagrammatically illustrates a picture transmitting studioapparatus wherein my invention has been embodied.

This apparatus includes a plurality of pick-up devices arranged to applyto a radio 1929. Serial No. 378,797.

in the art that the light is caused by the spirally arrangedperforations of the disc 11 to repeatedly scan the successive elementalareas of the picture. The light reflected from these successiveelemental areas is received by a pair of concave mirrors 17 and 18 fromwhich it is reflected into a pair of high sensitive cells 19 and 20located at the face of these mirrors. These cells are connected to theinput circuit of the radio transmitter 10 and operate in a well-knownmanner to modulate the output'current of this transmitter in accordancewith the shading of the different parts of the picture transmitted.

The apparatus also includes a pick-up device including a spiral disc 21,a light source 22, lenses 23 and 24, concave mirrors 25 and 26 and lightcells 27 and 28, and a pick-up device including a spiral disc 29, alight source 30, lenses 31 and 32, concave mirrors 33 and 34, and lightsensitive cells 35 and 36. As will be readil understood Without detailedexplanation, the first pick-up device is utilized to produce electricalimpulses dependent on the shading of the different parts of the picture14, the second pick-up device is utilized to produce electrical iinulses dependent on the arts of a picture 3 and the third pick-up eviceis utilized to produce electrical impulses dependent on the shading ofthe difl'erent parts of the picture 38. While the three pick-up devicesare illustrated, it will be apparent that any suitable number may beemployed.

In order for the different transmitted pictures to be properl framed atthe receiving station, it is essential not only that the perforatedscanning discs 11, 21 and 29 be rotated at the same speed, but also thatthey adjusted by means of a handwhee the anular position of the disc 11being adjusted E means of a worm 39, a gear 40 and a handwheel 41, theangular position of the disc 21 being adjusted by means of a wor 42, agear 43 and a handwheel 44, and the angular relation of the disc 29being adjusted bymeans of a worm 45, a gear 46 and a handwheell47. Thediscs 11, 21 and 29 are provided respectively with indicating marks 48,49 and 50 which are arranged to cooperate with a plurality of lamps 51,52 and 53. Current is supplied from suitable supply means 54'to the lamp52-through a switch 55 and a contact device 56 mounted on the shaft ofthe motor 12; to the lamp 53 through switch 57 anda contact device 58mounted on the shaft of the motor which drives the disc 21; and to thelamp 51.

through a switch 59 and a contact device 60 mounted on the shaft ofmotor which drives the disc 29.

Assuming that the discs 11, 21 and 29 ar rotating with the same speed,they are caused to have the same angular relation by adjustment of thehandwheels 41, 44 and 47. Thus in order to cause the disc .21 to havethe same angular relation as the disc 11, the handwheel 44 is adjusteduntil the indicating mark 49 on the disc 21 is opposite the lamp 52 whenthe contact device 56 connects this lamp to the suppl circuit 54.Likewise in order to cause tie disc 29 to have the same angular relationas the disc 21, the hand-wheel 47 is adjusted so that the indicatingmark 50 is opposite the lamp 53 when the circuit of this lamp iscompleted through the contact device 58 The angular relation of the disc29 may be also checked with that of the disc 11 by closing the switch59. If the adjustment is correct when this switch is closed, theindicating mark 48 on the disc 11 is opposite the light 51 when itscircuit is closed through the contact device 60. It will of course beunderstood that the contact devices 56, 58 and 60 are provided withconductive bars which cause the lamps 52, 53 and 51 to be lighted forvery short intervals of time..

. when the .apparatus has once been adjusted.

Thus with the apparatus as illustrated and described the picture 14 maybe transmitted for onetime interval and thereafterthe picranged totransmit a different picture, and

means at that station for indicating when said pictures are similarlyframed.

2. The combination of a plurality of devices at the same sendin stationeach arranged to transmit a di erent picture, and means at-that stationfor causing said pictures to be similarly framed.

3. The combination. of a plurality of devices at the same sendingstation each arranged to transmit a different picture, means at t atstation for indicating when said pictures are similarly framed, andmeans for causing said pictures to be similarly framed.

4. A picture transmitting apparatus including a plurality of movablescanning members at the same sending station, means for moving saidmembers, and means for establishing a predetermined relation between thepositions of said members. I

5. A picture transmitting apparatus including a plurality of movablescanning members at the same sending station, means for moving saidmembers, means for establishing a predetermined relation between thepositions ofsaid members, and means for indicating when said relation isestablished.

6. A picture transmitting apparatus including a plurality of rotatablescanning members arranged at the same sending station and perforatedalon lines parallel with their rotational axes, an means for causingsaid members to assume the same angular positions with respect to theirrespective perforations. 3

.7. A picture transmitting apparatus in cluding a plurality of rotatablescanning members arranged at the same sendin station and perforatedalong lines parallel with their rotational axes, means for causing saidmembers to assume the same angular ositions with respect to theirrespective pe orations, and means for indicatin when said members are insaid angular positlons.

8. A picture transmitting a paratus including a plurality of rotatablescanning members perforated along lines parallel with their rotationalaxes, means for causing said members to assume the same angularpositions with res ect to their respective perforations, and a amparranged to have its circuit'controlled in accordance with therotational speed of one of said members for indicating the relativeangular position of another of said members.

9. A picture transmitting ap aratus including a radio transmitter, a purality of pick-up devices each arranged to apply to said transmitterelectrical impulses dependent on the shading of the successive elementalareas of a scene taken from a different location, means for indicatingthe relation between the framing of the different scenes, and means forcausing said scenes to be similarly framed.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 15th da of July,1929.

l LIAM A. TOLSON.

